Display panel having gas-filled cells utilizing phosphor materials

ABSTRACT

The display panel includes a plurality of gas-filled cells and electrodes therefor, with some of the cells being formed by apertures in an insulating plate. The panel includes a selected phosphor material which is integral with said insulating plate and is exposed in the apertures therein.

-[22] Filed:

United States Patent Glaser [54] DISPLAY PANEL HAVING GAS-FILLED CELLSUTILIZING PHOSPHOR MATERIALS [72] inventor: David Glaser, Green Brook,NJ.

[73] Assignee: Burroughs Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

Feb. 1, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 111,310

[52] US. Cl. ..313/l08 B, 313/109.5, 315/169 [51] Int. Cl. ..I-I0lj 1/62[58] Field of Search ..313/l08 A, 108 B, 109.5;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Bitzeret al.. ....31 5/169 Rux [451 Oct.3l, 1972 4/1960 Bentley ..315/169 R 2,972,707 2/1961 Wood..315/169 R X 2,922,076 1/1960 Sack et a1 ..315/169 R X PrimaryExaminerRoy Lake Assistant Examiner-James B. Mullins Attorney-Kenneth L.Miller, Robert A. Green, I

George L. Kensinger and Charles S. Hall [57 ABSTRACT The display panelincludes a plurality of gas-filled cells and electrodes therefor, withsome of the cells being formed by apertures in an insulating plate. Thepanel includes a selected phosphor material which is integral with saidinsulating plate and is exposed in the apertures therein.

11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED 110131 m2 sum 1 ur 2 ATTORNEY AVIDGLASER DISPLAY PANEL HAVING GAS-FILLED CELLS UTILIZING PHOSPHORMATERIALS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Gas-filled display panels havebecome commercially available, and there are at least two types whichare offered for sale. One type includes rows and columns of SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION Briefly, the invention comprises including a phosphormaterial in the body of an insulating plate which carries a plurality ofapertures which comprise the display cells of a panel, with the phosphormaterial being exposed and accessible in said apertures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of adisplay panel embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, along the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing thepane] assembled; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of another type of display devicewhich can utilize the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One form of display panel whichmay be utilized in practicing the invention is known as a SELF-SCANpanel and includes a base plate of glass, ceramic, or the like having atop surface in which a plurality of parallel, horizontal slots areformed. An electrode 40, preferably a wire operated as a scanning anode,is seated in each of the slots 30; and an array of electrodes 50,preferably flat strip electrodes operated as scanning cathodes, areseated on the top surface of the base plate 20. The cathode electrodes50 are oriented at 90 to the anode electrodes so that each cathodecrosses each anode and each crossing defines a scanning gas cell 60. Thecathodes carry tiny apertures 70, each of which is located at a scanningcell, and the scanning cells are arrayed in rows and columns.

An apertured insulating plate 80 is seated on the cathode electrodes,and, if desired, the cathodes may be seated in depressions in either thetop surface of the base plate or the bottom surface of the aperturedplate. The apertured plate includes apertures 90 which function asdisplay cells, here being one display cell 90 for each scanning cell 60so that the plate includes rows and columns of display cells.

According to the invention, a phosphor material 96 is provided inoperative relation with each display cell 90, and, in one suitablearrangement, the phosphor is dispersed through the body of plate 80 andis exposed in the walls of the plate which define the apertures 90.

The plate may be made of glass, or it may be made of a material known asForsterite, and the desired phosphor material may be mixed with thestarting material from which the plate 80 is formed by a molding processor by any other process. If the apertures 80 are formed directly in themanufacturing process, then particles of phosphor material 96 will beexposed in the walls of the cells, and similarly, if the holes areformed by a drilling process after the plate 80 is manufactured, thenthe phosphor material will be similarly exposed in the cells.

Phosphor materials which may be used in gas devices are well known, andsome of these include zinc orthosilicates, zinc sulfides, lead sulfides,and the like.

An array of electrodes 100, preferably wires operated as display anodes,is seated on the top surface of the apertured plate 80, with eachelectrode being aligned with a row of display cells 90. The panel iscompleted by a top glass cover or viewing plate 110.

All of the insulating plates and electrodes are secured together by aseal which may be formed of a glass frit or the like, and the panel isfilled with the desired gas through a tubulation secured to plate 20 andcommunicating with the interior of the panel through a hole in plate 20.The gas used in panel 10 may be any suitable ionizablegas such as neon,argon, xenon, etc., singly or in combination, with a vapor of a metalsuch as mercury usually included in the gas to minimize cathodesputtering. The gas pressure may be selected from a relatively widerange, for example from about 50 to about 250 torr'at room temperature,with about torr being normally used.

The operation of a panel such as panel I0 is described in detail incopending application Ser. No. 850,984, and the intimate details of theoperation will not be set forth herein. It is sufficient to say that thescanning cells and the display cells are operated in conjunction witheach other, with information control signals being utilized to cause thecells 90 to glow and to display a message or character. When the cells90 glow, the phosphor in the walls of the cells is energized to producethe desired color of glow in the cells and in the message displayed.

The principles of the invention may also be employed in a segment-typedisplay device, one form of which is shown schematically in FIG. 3. Thedevice 10 includes an insulating base plate 160 which carries aplurality of cathode segments 170, each of which has a conductive lead(not shown), and an apertured insulating plate is seated on theinsulating base plate, with each aperture therein surrounding andenclosing one of the cathode segments. The panel 10 also includes ananode electrode 200, which may be a screen which is positioned over thegroup of cathode electrodes, or the anode may comprise a transparentconductive film as shown, formed on the cover plate 210 of the panel.

In the panel 10', the apertured insulating plate 180 includes embeddedphosphor material 196 which is exposed in each of the apertures 190,generally in the manner described above.

It is clear that the invention may also be practiced with display panelshaving groups of cathode segments, each of which can display a characterso that a plurality of characters can be displayed at the same time.Panels of this type are described and claimed in copending applicationSer. No. 61,642, filed Aug. 6, 1970.

tures comprise small dot-like volumes which are arrayed in rows andcolumns and can be selectively energized to display characters.

3. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said insulating body has anarray of elongated rectangular apertures, said apertures beingenergizable in different groups to represent characters.

4. The device defined in claim 1 wherein each cathode electrode isdisposed within an aperture and each anode electrode is spacedtherefrom.

5. A gas-filled display device comprising an envelope containing aninsulating plate having apertures defining gas-filled glow cells andhaving top and bottom surfaces,

an anode and cathode electrode associated with each said cell, saidcathode being positioned adjacent to said bottom surface of said plateand said anode electrode being positioned adjacent to said top surfaceof said plate,

said insulating plate having phosphor material dispersed through itsbody and exposed in said apertures.

6. A gas-filled display device comprising an envelope containing a firstarray of first gas-filled cells and having an anode electrode and acathode electrode means associated with each of said cells,

an insulating plate having a second array of second gas-filled cells inoperative relation with said first array of cells with an anode and saidcathode electrode means associated with each said second cell,

said insulating plate having phosphor material dispersed through itsbody and exposed in said second cells.

7. A gas-filled display device comprising an envelope containing a firstarray of first gas-filled cells and having an anode electrode and acathode electrode associated with each of said cells, and

an insulating plate having a second array of second gas-filled cells inoperative relation with said first array of cells with an anode and saidcathode electrode associated with each said second cell,

said second array of gas-filled cells being disposed adjacent to andabove said first array of gas-filled cells, with each second gas-filledcell being in gas communication with one of said first gas-filled cells,

said insulating plate having phosphor material exposed in said secondcells.

8. A gas-filled display device comprising an envelope,

a first insulating plate in said envelope,

a plurality of cathode electrodes on said plate,

a second insulating plate supported on said first plate and having aplurality of apertures, each of which surrounds and encloses one of saidcathode segments, and

I an anode electrode spaced from said cathode electrodes,

said second insulating plate having phosphor material exposed in saidapertures.

9. A gas-filled display device comprising an envelope,

a first insulating plate in said envelope,

a plurality of cathode electrodes on said plate,

a second insulating plate supported on said first plate and having aplurality of apertures, each of which surrounds and encloses one of saidcathode segments, and

an anode electrode spaced from said cathode electrodes,

said second insulating plate having phosphor material dispersed throughits body and exposed in said apertures.

10. Method of making a display panel comprising the steps of preparing amixture of an insulating material and a phosphor material and forming aplate therewith having apertures in which particles of said phosphormaterial are exposed,

assembling said plate with an anode electrode and a cathode electrodefor each aperture in an envelope,

introducing an ionizable gas into said envelope, and

sealing said envelope.

11. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope containing aninsulating plate having apertures defining gas-filled glow cells, saidcells being spaced apart, with solid portions of said plate disposedbetween them, and

an anode and cathode electrode associated with each said cell,

said insulating plate having particles of phosphor material dispersedthroughout its volume and within the solid portions thereof disposedbetween said cells, said phosphor particles being exposed in the wallsof said plate defining each of said apertures and in contact with thegas therein.

1. A gas-filled display device comprising an envelope containing aninsulating body having apertures defining gas-filled glow cells, and ananode and cathode electrode associated with each said cell, saidinsulating body having phosphor material dispersed through its body andexposed in said apertures.
 2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein saidapertures comprise small dot-like volumes which are arrayed in rows andcolumns and can be selectively energized to display characters.
 3. Thedevice defined in claim 1 wherein said insulating bOdy has an array ofelongated rectangular apertures, said apertures being energizable indifferent groups to represent characters.
 4. The device defined in claim1 wherein each cathode electrode is disposed within an aperture and eachanode electrode is spaced therefrom.
 5. A gas-filled display devicecomprising an envelope containing an insulating plate having aperturesdefining gas-filled glow cells and having top and bottom surfaces, ananode and cathode electrode associated with each said cell, said cathodebeing positioned adjacent to said bottom surface of said plate and saidanode electrode being positioned adjacent to said top surface of saidplate, said insulating plate having phosphor material dispersed throughits body and exposed in said apertures.
 6. A gas-filled display devicecomprising an envelope containing a first array of first gas-filledcells and having an anode electrode and a cathode electrode meansassociated with each of said cells, an insulating plate having a secondarray of second gas-filled cells in operative relation with said firstarray of cells with an anode and said cathode electrode means associatedwith each said second cell, said insulating plate having phosphormaterial dispersed through its body and exposed in said second cells. 7.A gas-filled display device comprising an envelope containing a firstarray of first gas-filled cells and having an anode electrode and acathode electrode associated with each of said cells, and an insulatingplate having a second array of second gas-filled cells in operativerelation with said first array of cells with an anode and said cathodeelectrode associated with each said second cell, said second array ofgas-filled cells being disposed adjacent to and above said first arrayof gas-filled cells, with each second gas-filled cell being in gascommunication with one of said first gas-filled cells, said insulatingplate having phosphor material exposed in said second cells.
 8. Agas-filled display device comprising an envelope, a first insulatingplate in said envelope, a plurality of cathode electrodes on said plate,a second insulating plate supported on said first plate and having aplurality of apertures, each of which surrounds and encloses one of saidcathode segments, and an anode electrode spaced from said cathodeelectrodes, said second insulating plate having phosphor materialexposed in said apertures.
 9. A gas-filled display device comprising anenvelope, a first insulating plate in said envelope, a plurality ofcathode electrodes on said plate, a second insulating plate supported onsaid first plate and having a plurality of apertures, each of whichsurrounds and encloses one of said cathode segments, and an anodeelectrode spaced from said cathode electrodes, said second insulatingplate having phosphor material dispersed through its body and exposed insaid apertures.
 10. Method of making a display panel comprising thesteps of preparing a mixture of an insulating material and a phosphormaterial and forming a plate therewith having apertures in whichparticles of said phosphor material are exposed, assembling said platewith an anode electrode and a cathode electrode for each aperture in anenvelope, introducing an ionizable gas into said envelope, and sealingsaid envelope.
 11. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelopecontaining an insulating plate having apertures defining gas-filled glowcells, said cells being spaced apart, with solid portions of said platedisposed between them, and an anode and cathode electrode associatedwith each said cell, said insulating plate having particles of phosphormaterial dispersed throughout its volume and within the solid portionsthereof disposed between said cells, said phosphor particles beingexposed in the walls of said plate defining each of said apertures andin contacT with the gas therein.